Top prospect Klein to rehab labrum tear

By Brittany Ghiroli / MLB.com

PITTSBURGH -- Orioles top pitching prospect Dan Klein was diagnosed with a small S.L.A.P. tear in his right labrum (shoulder), and the plan is for him to forgo surgery and begin a rehabilitation program next week.

Klein was examined by renowned orthopedic specialist Dr. Lewis Yocum on Monday, and the thought right now is he will be able to avoid surgery and likely undergo a rehab procession similar to Orioles reliever Jason Berken, who was shut down last season with a similar injury.

Klein will see team orthopedist Dr. John Wilckens on Friday in Baltimore. He is expected to head to the team's spring facility in Sarasota, Fla., shortly after that to lay the groundwork for a rehab plan. There is no timetable on his return, which will be a matter of months, not weeks, given that he hasn't pitched since June 1.

The 22-year-old Klein was a combined 3-1 with a 1.11 ERA between Class A Frederick and Double-A Bowie, allowing 23 hits and six walks while striking out 37 batters in 32 1/3 innings.

A third-round pick out of UCLA in last year's First-Year Player Draft, Klein was officially put on the Minor League disabled list on June 8 with shoulder tendinitis, after experiencing trouble warming up and getting loose prior to that. Klein has a history of injuries, including a shoulder problem at UCLA that required surgery.

Russell to remain bench coach for time being

PITTSBURGH -- John Russell did not serve as the Orioles third-base coach for Monday's series opener in Pittsburgh, and the former Pirates manager will continue to be the O's bench coach for at least the rest of the road trip.

When asked Monday night the reasoning behind the switch, which moves bench coach Willie Randolph to third base, Orioles manager Buck Showalter said it was a combination of things.

"[His] knees [have] been barking a little bit, plus I want to get him closer to the catchers between innings and stuff," Showalter said of Russell. "You know, we talked about it a little bit. Plus, with John coming back here to Pittsburgh, I wanted him to be a little closer to me to talk about his knowledge of the Pirates a little bit. It was three-fold."

Showalter confirmed on Tuesday that the switch would stay in place for the rest of the series. The skipper also left open the possibility that the role reversal could be more permanent.

"We'll see where we are when we get through here," Showalter said.

"It fits the club where we are right now a little better, and takes advantage of the needs of the players a little better."

Werner to take over as interim bullpen coach

PITTSBURGH -- The Orioles will name Don Werner interim bullpen coach on Friday, a role he will hold until at least Aug. 1, before the organization reevaluates things.

Hitting consultant Terry Crowley had been filling in for the team in the role vacated by Rick Adair, who took over as pitching coach in the wake of Mark Connor's resignation last week.

131 wins

121 wins

"It's obviously something he didn't want to make on a permanent basis," manager Buck Showalter said of Crowley, who stepped down as the team's hitting coach last season. "He said he got reminded of why he moved on to what he's doing now, traveling with us.

"[Naming] Donny is a lot of reasons. One, he's an Oriole. He throws good batting practice. Really impressed with him this spring. A good fit for us. It takes, from an organization standpoint, it probably taxes us the least, as far as what you are taking them away from."

Werner has been in the Orioles organization for nine years, and spent the last five as a roving catching instructor. It's possible he continues past August, as Showalter will sit down with president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail to go over where they are organizationally before making that decision.

"We are lucky, he was flying to Baltimore on Thursday night anyway," Showalter said of Werner. "He was going to Aberdeen, and Frederick and Bowie. [He] was going to make his [affiliate] rounds anyway. So it worked out good."

Tidbits

 Alfredo Simon (strained right hamstring) is expected to start throwing down in extended spring. The right-hander is targeting the minimum disabled list stay, which means he could be activated as soon as June 28.

 Utility infielder Cesar Izturis (right elbow surgery) is progressing very well and could be back after the All-Star break. That's great news, since the initial prognosis had him potentially missing the entire season.

 The Orioles will wait until after Jeremy Guthrie's Tuesday start before naming their rotation for the weekend, but they will try to avoid going back-to-back lefties with Zach Britton and Brian Matusz.

That makes it more likely Chris Jakubauskas will start Friday, pushing Matusz back to Saturday. The team is also considering giving Jake Arrieta a few extra days' rest, since he didn't look good physically Monday night and manager Buck Showalter said he had some past issues creep back up. Arrieta has had elbow and right hip problems in the past.